54 International Journal of Cultic Studies ■ Vol. 9, 2018
Paloutzian, R. F., Richardson, J. T., &Rambo, L. R. (1999).
Religious conversion and personality change. Journal of
Personality, 67(6), 1047–1079.
Robbins, T., &Anthony, D. (1982). Deprogramming,
brainwashing and the medicalization of deviant religious groups.
Social Problems, 29(3), 283–297.
Swartling, G., &Swartling, P. G. (1992). Psychiatric problems in
ex-members of Word of Life. Cultic Studies Journal, 9(1), 78–88.
Walsh, Y., Russell, R. J. H., &Wells, P. A. (1995). The
personality of ex-cult members. Personality and Individual
Differences, 19(3), 339–344.
Winocur-Craig, N. (1995). The assessment of cult involvement and
its relationship to psychological distress in former cult members.
(Doctoral dissertation). Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA.
Woody, W. D. (2009). Use of cult in the teaching of psychology of
religion and spirituality. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality,
1(4), 218–232.
Ysseldyk, R., Matheson, K., &Anisman, H. (2010). Religiosity as
identity: Towards an understanding of religion from a social
identity perspective. Personality and Social Psychology Review,
14, 60–71.
About the Authors
Maria Göransson, BSc in psychology, is a
medical student at Linköping University,
Sweden. She has studied psychology with a
special interest in cultic environments and their
possible effect on their members. She was a
member of the Swedish Pentecostal church
during her adolescence. She can be reached
through e-mail: margo306@student.liu.se or
through Rolf Holmqvist, Department of
Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping
University phone +46 13 28 25 60 e-mail:
rolf.holmqvis@liu.se.
Rolf Holmqvist, PhD, is a Professor of Clinical
Psychology, Department of Behavioral Sciences
and Learning, Linköping University, Sweden.
Paloutzian, R. F., Richardson, J. T., &Rambo, L. R. (1999).
Religious conversion and personality change. Journal of
Personality, 67(6), 1047–1079.
Robbins, T., &Anthony, D. (1982). Deprogramming,
brainwashing and the medicalization of deviant religious groups.
Social Problems, 29(3), 283–297.
Swartling, G., &Swartling, P. G. (1992). Psychiatric problems in
ex-members of Word of Life. Cultic Studies Journal, 9(1), 78–88.
Walsh, Y., Russell, R. J. H., &Wells, P. A. (1995). The
personality of ex-cult members. Personality and Individual
Differences, 19(3), 339–344.
Winocur-Craig, N. (1995). The assessment of cult involvement and
its relationship to psychological distress in former cult members.
(Doctoral dissertation). Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA.
Woody, W. D. (2009). Use of cult in the teaching of psychology of
religion and spirituality. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality,
1(4), 218–232.
Ysseldyk, R., Matheson, K., &Anisman, H. (2010). Religiosity as
identity: Towards an understanding of religion from a social
identity perspective. Personality and Social Psychology Review,
14, 60–71.
About the Authors
Maria Göransson, BSc in psychology, is a
medical student at Linköping University,
Sweden. She has studied psychology with a
special interest in cultic environments and their
possible effect on their members. She was a
member of the Swedish Pentecostal church
during her adolescence. She can be reached
through e-mail: margo306@student.liu.se or
through Rolf Holmqvist, Department of
Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping
University phone +46 13 28 25 60 e-mail:
rolf.holmqvis@liu.se.
Rolf Holmqvist, PhD, is a Professor of Clinical
Psychology, Department of Behavioral Sciences
and Learning, Linköping University, Sweden.
